Movie 'Gattaca': Movie Analysis

The movie “Gattaca” is a sci-fi movie that takes place in “the not-too-distant” future, where genetic engineering of humans is common. In this sci-fi future, class differences are construct is primarily determined by your DNA. In the movie society’s culture is ingrained with eugenics, evident by the clear institutionalized discrimination. Eugenics is a set of beliefs and practices that aim at improving the genetic quality of the human population. Eugenics is not a “new” concept, people have been discriminating based on looks ever since prehistoric times. The movie inspired me to do some research on popular eugenics movements in the post-industrial age (1850-present). My primary goal of was to identify the motives behind early eugenics

Although this may be the case in many areas of people’s lives today, it is not always beneficial, or necessary. People may have trouble deciding whether messing with human genes and cells is ethical. Designing the “perfect child” in many parent’s eyes becomes a harsh question of reality. The concept of a parent’s unconditional love for their child is questioned because of the desire to make their child perfect. If genetically engineering humans becomes a dominant medical option, people could have the chance to create their child however they like: from physical appearances, genetically enhanced genes, and the possibility to decide what a child thinks and acts, parents have access to designing their entire child. Naturally, people could be creating a super-human. Issues between different races, and eventually creating new prejudices against genetically engineered humans may increase. People may not realize how expensive genetic screening is at first. With only the rich being able to “enhance” their children, another social issue might occur, giving the world another type of people to outcast.

The escalating supremacy and receptiveness of genetic technology to engineer and "design babies," now gives parents the option to modify their unborn children, consecutively to prevent their offspring's from receiving genetic disorders such as: "sickle cell diseases, cystic fibrosis and down syndrome ," or conceivably, make them blue eye coloured, intelligent or else blessed with enviable qualities. Would this mean there will be an increase in the superiority among the rich, both physically and mentally, or will this modification be available for all to exploit, or would we be evidencing engineered babies facing unexpected genetic predicament? The highly contentious issue of designing unborn children to be a perfect "epitome" is thoroughly investigated and examined in the article of, lead author of

You may have not thought about issues that come along with genetics and the genetic makeup of a human being. This includes but not limited to how your child will look, will the offspring have your features, the fathers features, or even one of the grandparents' features. This has caused many stakeholders to debate on whether genetic engineering should be allowed and to what extent. Meaning, should we be able to design our children based on how we want them to look or to prevent them from obtaining some detrimental conditions? Most would base their opinions on the “fun” part of designing your baby and how cool that may seem. In a study by Salah, Yaz, a publisher for Emaze

Parents wish for their children to be perfect and, more so, healthy. Through the advancement of modern technology and science, giving birth to a child of desired hair color, body type, and without any physical or mental ailments could be a reality for all parents, whether or not they are carriers of certain genes. Genetic modification, sometimes called “germline editing,” has the potential to allow for medical doctors and scientists to not only change certain characteristics of a human embryo, but to also alter the future of humanity itself. While this process has many proponents, the modification of the very essence of human life has some people worried. This is, in fact, uncharted territory in the scientific world, and the extent of the possible

In an early scene in Gattaca, the parents go to a fertility clinic and work with a genetic doctor to be able to pick and choose which genes they want their child to express (Niccol, 1997). In the Week 5 lecture, it was discussed about different tests that are available to determine the genetic makeup of a fetus for chromosomal abnormalities, the CVS test (Watson, 2018). Now while it is not feasible to create “designer babies”, this technology that is used now, the CVS test, could possibly be evolved to pick and choose desirable traits for possible

Introduction The film Gattaca, directed by Niccol in 1997, focuses in a futuristic society that promotes eugenics, which is a social philosophy that encourages parents to use gene manipulation to conceive their children. The main character Vincent Freeman, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, shows his struggles with social and genetic discrimination since he is conceived naturally without any genetic intervention and thus is provided a lowered statistical life expectancy of 30 years. Ironically, the film does not only touches on the struggle with surviving in a society who brands humans as “valid” or “in-valid” by using genotype profiling which has been predetermined by the eugenics program, but shows that it does not always control people’s fate. As described by Vincent at the beginning of the movie, society’s rejection was directly shown: “[his] destiny was mapped out before [him] neurological condition 60% probability, manic depression 42% probability, attention deficit disorder, 89% probability, heart disorder, 99 % probability.

It is likely that a form of hierarchy would arise, should genetic engineering become part of our society. "Many of the grounds on which certain groups were historically denied their share of human dignity were proven to be simply a matter of prejudice, or else based on cultural and environmental conditions that could be changed" (Fukuyama 156). Fukuyama relates this idea to the apprehension that women were too illogical or impetuous to engage in

In the 1997 hit film, “GATTACA”, we are shown a dystopian society in which humanity has perfected the science of genetic modification, and now discriminates against someone’s genes instead of their race, gender or skin colour. Despite being described as set in the “not-too distant future” (Although being created in 1997 would make the year 2015 be the “not-too distant future” from the writers point of view), are we really close to living in a society set out in the film? Considering the current state of technology and laws governing these so called ‘Bioethics’ problems, that is to say the laws governing the practice of medicine and technology in the field of Biology with regards to ethical problems that arise from its practice, and considering

Science is now able to better improve human health and safety thanks to the advanced modern technology and medicine that are available. Yet with today's technology being implemented into science comes the questions of human morality, or bioethics. One of the bioethics debates is on the coined term “Designer babies”; on if or where society should draw the line on genetically altering our children before they are born. With the technology able to stop hereditary diseases, the scientific development’s are able to change the child’s “eye color, hair color, social intelligence, right down to whether or not your child would have a widow’s peak” before the child is born. From the options on choosing whether or not your child will look or act a certain

If the human race was able to design their children the natural divided in society would drastically change; ultimately, crippling the future. A new advanced race of humans would create an even playing field but society would be unable to function. There would be no one willing to do blue collar jobs; therefore, leading the dismembering of basic jobs that are essential for communities to function. For example, waste management, sewer inspectors, coal miners, farmers, oil rig workers, and plumbers would be nonexistent as everyone would want jobs that a considered prestigious. The movie “Gattaca” directed by Andrew Niccol explored the implications of genetically enhanced humans. It is distinguished that only genetically enhanced individuals thrive

No more are the days of an parent in the waiting room, waiting to hear if there child is born with a disability, for a hefty fee the baby can be genetically altered to come out perfect in a sense. The wealthy can pick almost everything down to the hair and eye color, the time of uncertainty is over for those who are wealthy.

It is a series of genes alongside the strong influence of external factors such as the environment. Nonetheless, technology and science continued to move in the direction of designer babies. Those who support human genetic engineering claim that the science is meant to prevent diseases and encourage more healthy births. They compared the use of gene therapy to prevent genetic diseases to medicine which helps cure it. Professor Lee Silver at Princeton University said, “Some people say we should not go against nature, but that’s illogical because every time we cure a disease we go against nature” (Schicholr, Simonet, and Canano, 2012). The pregnant women from the ABC NEWS study thought picking the traits of a child takes away the surprise. However, other felt different. Supporters claimed that the selection of a child’s genetic pool could be beneficial because parents get to choose how they want their children to be. There will be no surprises and no disappointments. They create the child who they imagine it would be, leading to their perfect family (Resnik, 2012). Everyone wants to be smarter, be more athletic, or better looking and if technology can design babies in such a way then everyone should want genetic engineering as stated by scientist Joe Tsien (Annas).

Biology is the science of life. Technology uses science to solve problems. Our society has progressed in its understanding of life to the point that we are able to manipulate it on a fundamental level through technology. This has led to profound ethical dilemmas. The movie Gattaca explores some important bioethical issues that are currently the focus of much dispute. The underlying thematic issue presented is the question of the extent to which biologically inherent human potential determines the true potential of a person. Perhaps the most controversial issue in Gattaca is the use of genetic engineering technology in humans to create a more perfect society; this is, essentially, a new

The movie Gattaca is based in the distant future. The people are defined by their genetic information. In this movie, “natural” born children are classed as invalids, whereas people that are genetically created and modified are valid. The invalids are basically just as their name, invalid and must get a regular job, nothing spectacular. One of the main characters, Vincent Freeman, is the last child to be “naturally born”. After his birth, the doctors tell his parents that he has a life span of 30.2 years and there are so many genetic related things that are wrong with him. For all his childhood life, he is treated as if he is ill and sick all the time. Any little thing such as falling, or scraping his knee, is treated as if he is about to die. The couple then has another son, Anton. He is conceived by the new normal, genetic selection. He is now considered superior to Vincent. The father’s name is Anton and the second son takes his name because he is not genetically shortcoming. As a young boy Vincent has dreams of having a career working in space, but because of his invalid status, it will not be possible for him to get into the program. The brothers would often play a game called “chicken”. In this game, they would both swim out into the sea. Whoever turns around and starts to swim back first loses. One day while playing this game, Vincent actually wins. The one that is inferior actually wins. Anton begins to drown and Vincent must save him. After he wins the game, he